Troy Bilt Lawn Mower OG 4904 User Manual

Owner’s Manual  
SET-UP OPERATION MAINTENANCE  
IMPORTANT: Read Safety Rules and Instructions Carefully  
PRINTED IN CANADA  
OG-4904  
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This unit has been inspected against the manufacturers quality check list. In case of a discrep-  
ancy, please call us. We will make every effort to ship the part(s) by courier within one working  
day of your call.  
IMPORTANT SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES  
WARNING: This symbol points out important safety instructions which, if not fol-  
lowed, could endanger the personal safety and/or property of yourself and others.  
Read and follow all instructions in this manual before attempting to operate this  
machine. Failure to comply with these instructions may result in personal injury.  
When you see this symbol—  
heed its warning.  
DANGER: This machine was built to be operated according to the rules for safe op-  
eration in this manual. As with any type of power equipment, carelessness or error  
on the part of the operator can result in serious injury. This machine is capable of  
amputating hands and feet and throwing objects. Failure to observe the following  
safety instructions could result in serious injury or death.  
GENERAL OPERATION  
Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and  
close-fitting slacks and shirts. Shirts and  
pants that cover the arms and legs and  
steel-toed shoes are recommended. Never  
operate this machine in bare feet, sandals,  
slippery or light weight (e.g. canvas) shoes.  
Read, understand, and follow all instructions  
on the machine and in the manual(s) before  
attempting to assemble and operate. Keep  
this manual in a safe place for future and  
regular reference and for ordering replace-  
ment parts.  
Many injuries occur as a result of the mower  
being pulled over the foot during a fall  
caused by slipping or tripping. Do not hold  
on to the mower if you are falling; release  
the handle immediately.  
Be familiar with all controls and their proper  
operation. Know how to stop the machine  
and disengage them quickly.  
Never allow children under 14 years old to  
operate this machine. Children 14 years old  
and over should read and understand the  
operation instructions and safety rules in  
this manual and should be trained and su-  
pervised by a parent.  
Never pull the mower back toward you while  
you are walking. If you must back the  
mower away from a wall or obstruction first  
look down and behind to avoid tripping and  
then follow these steps:  
a) Step back from the mower to fully extend  
your arms.  
Never allow adults to operate this machine  
without proper instruction.  
b) Be sure you are well balanced with sure  
footing.  
To help avoid blade contact or a thrown ob-  
ject injury, keep bystanders, helpers,  
children and pets at least 75 feet from the  
machine while it is in operation. Stop ma-  
chine if anyone enters the area.  
c) Pull the mower back slowly, no more than  
half way toward you.  
d) Repeat these steps as needed.  
Thoroughly inspect the area where the  
equipment is to be used. Remove all stones,  
sticks, wire, bones, toys and other foreign  
objects which could be tripped over or  
picked up and thrown by the blade. Thrown  
objects can cause serious personal injury.  
Do not operate the mower while under the  
influence of alcohol or drugs.  
Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts  
or under the cutting deck. Contact with the  
blade can amputate hands and feet.  
A missing or damaged discharge cover can  
cause blade contact or thrown object inju-  
ries.  
Plan your mowing pattern to avoid dis-  
charge of material toward roads, sidewalks,  
bystanders and the like. Also, avoid dis-  
charging material against  
a
wall or  
Do not engage the self-propelled mecha-  
nism on units so equipped while starting  
engine.  
obstruction which may cause discharged  
material to ricochet back toward the opera-  
tor.  
Never attempt to make a wheel or cutting  
height adjustment while the engine is run-  
ning.  
Always wear safety glasses or safety gog-  
gles during operation and while performing  
an adjustment or repair to protect your  
eyes. Thrown objects which ricochet can  
cause serious injury to the eyes.  
The blade control handle is a safety device.  
Never attempt to bypass its operation.  
Doing so makes the safety device inopera-  
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tive and may result in personal injury  
through contact with the rotating blade. The  
blade control handle must operate easily in  
both directions and automatically return to  
the disengaged position when released.  
DO:  
Mow across the face of slopes; never up  
and down. Exercise extreme caution when  
changing direction on slopes. Watch for  
holes, ruts, bumps, rocks, or other hidden  
objects which can cause you to slip or trip.  
Tall grass can hide obstacles. Always be  
sure of your footing. A slip and fall can  
cause serious personal injury. If you feel you  
are losing your balance, release the blade  
control handle immediately, and the blade  
will stop rotating within 3 seconds.  
Never operate the mower in wet grass. Al-  
ways be sure of your footing. A slip and fall  
can cause serious personal injury. If you feel  
you are losing your footing, release the  
blade control handle immediately and the  
blade will stop rotating within three seconds.  
Mow only in daylight or in good artificial  
light. Walk, never run.  
DO NOT:  
Stop the blade when crossing gravel drives,  
walks or roads.  
Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or em-  
bankments, you could lose your footing or  
balance.  
If the equipment should start to vibrate ab-  
normally, stop the engine and check  
immediately for the cause. Vibration is gen-  
erally a warning of trouble.  
Do not mow slopes greater than 15 degrees  
as shown on the slope gauge.  
Do not mow on wet grass. Unstable footing  
could cause slipping.  
Shut the engine off and wait until the blade  
comes to a complete stop before removing  
the grass catcher or unclogging the chute.  
The cutting blade continues to rotate for a  
few seconds after the engine is shut off.  
Never place any part of the body in the  
blade area until you are sure the blade has  
stopped rotating.  
CHILDREN  
Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is  
not alert to the presence of children. Children  
are often attracted to the mower and the  
mowing activity. They do not understand the  
dangers. Never assume that children will re-  
main where you last saw them.  
Never operate mower without proper trail  
shield, discharge cover, grass catcher, blade  
control handle or other safety protective de-  
vices in place and working. Never operate  
mower with damaged safety devices. Failure  
to do so, can result in personal injury.  
a) Keep children out of the mowing area  
and under the watchful care of a respon-  
sible adult other than the operator.  
b) Be alert and turn mower off if a child en-  
ters the area.  
Muffler and engine become hot and can  
cause a burn. Do not touch.  
c) Before and while moving backwards, look  
behind and down for small children.  
Only use parts and accessories made for  
this machine by the manufacturer. Failure to  
do so, can result in personal injury.  
d) Use extreme care when approaching  
blind corners, doorways, shrubs, trees, or  
other objects that may obscure your vi-  
sion of a child who may run into the  
mower.  
If situations occur which are not covered in  
this manual, use care and good judgment.  
Contact your customer support department.  
e) Keep children away from hot or running  
engines. They can suffer burns from a  
hot muffler.  
SLOPE OPERATION  
Slopes are a major factor related to slip and  
fall accidents which can result in severe in-  
jury. Operation on slopes requires extra  
caution. If you feel uneasy on a slope, do  
not mow it. For your safety, use the slope  
gauge included as part of this manual to  
measure slopes before operating this unit on  
a sloped or hilly area. If the slope is greater  
than 15 degrees, do not mow it.  
Never allow children under 14 years old to  
operate a power mower. Children 14 years  
old and over should read and understand  
the operation instructions and safety rules in  
this manual and should be trained and su-  
pervised by a parent.  
SERVICE SAFE HANDLING OF GASOLINE:  
To avoid personal injury or property damage  
use extreme care in handling gasoline. Gas-  
oline is extremely flammable and the vapors  
are explosive. Serious personal injury can  
occur when gasoline is spilled on yourself  
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or your clothes which can ignite. Wash your  
skin and change clothes immediately.  
GENERAL SERVICE:  
Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly  
ventilated area. Engine exhaust contains car-  
bon monoxide, an odorless and deadly gas.  
a) Use only an approved gasoline container.  
b) Never fill containers inside a vehicle or on  
a truck or trailer bed with a plastic liner.  
Always place containers on the ground  
away from your vehicle before filling.  
Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting,  
make certain the blade and all moving parts  
have stopped. Disconnect the spark plug  
wire and ground against the engine to pre-  
vent unintended starting.  
c) When practical, remove gas-powered  
equipment from the truck or trailer and  
refuel it on the ground. If this is not possi-  
ble, then refuel such equipment on a  
trailer with a portable container, rather  
than from a gasoline dispenser nozzle.  
Check the blade and engine mounting bolts  
at frequent intervals for proper tightness.  
Also, visually inspect blade for damage  
(e.g., bent, cracked, worn) Replace blade  
with the original equipment manufacturer’s  
(O.E.M.) blade only, listed in this manual.  
“Use of parts which do not meet the original  
equipment specifications may lead to im-  
proper performance and compromise  
safety!”  
d) Keep the nozzle in contact with the rim of  
the fuel tank or container opening at all  
times until fueling is complete. Do not  
use a nozzle lock-open device.  
e) Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes  
and other sources of ignition.  
Mower blades are sharp and can cut. Wrap  
the blade(s) or wear gloves, and use extra  
caution when servicing them.  
f) Never fuel machine indoors.  
g) Never remove gas cap or add fuel while  
the engine is hot or running. Allow en-  
gine to cool at least two minutes before  
refueling.  
Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be  
sure the equipment is in safe working condi-  
tion.  
h) Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no  
more than ½ inch below bottom of filler  
neck to provide space for fuel expansion.  
Never tamper with safety devices. Check  
their proper operation regularly.  
After striking a foreign object, stop the en-  
gine, disconnect the spark plug wire and  
ground against the engine. Thoroughly in-  
spect the mower for any damage. Repair  
the damage before starting and operating  
the mower.  
i) Replace gasoline cap and tighten se-  
curely.  
j) If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the en-  
gine and equipment. Move unit to  
another area. Wait 5 minutes before start-  
ing the engine.  
Grass catcher components, discharge cover,  
and trail shield are subject to wear and  
damage which could expose moving parts  
or allow objects to be thrown. For safety  
protection, frequently check components  
and replace immediately with original equip-  
ment manufacturer’s (O.E.M.) parts only,  
listed in this manual. “Use of parts which do  
not meet the original equipment specifica-  
tions may lead to improper performance  
and compromise safety!”  
k) Never store the machine or fuel container  
inside where there is an open flame,  
spark or pilot light as on a water heater,  
space heater, furnace, clothes dryer or  
other gas appliances.  
l) To reduce fire hazard, keep machine free  
of grass, leaves, or other debris build-up.  
Clean up oil or fuel spillage and remove  
any fuel soaked debris.  
m) Allow machine to cool at least 5 minutes  
before storing.  
Do not change the engine governor setting  
or overspeed the engine. The governor con-  
trols the maximum safe operating speed of  
the engine.  
Maintain or replace safety and instruction la-  
bels, as necessary.  
Observe proper disposal laws and regula-  
tions. Improper disposal of fluids and  
materials can harm the environment.  
SI-102  
7.23.03  
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OWNER'S  
MANUAL  
SAFETY LABEL  
WARNING - Your Responsibility:  
Restrict the use of this power machine to persons who  
read, understand and follow the warnings and instruc-  
tions in this manual and on the machine.  
SLOPE GAUGE  
(Keep this sheet in a safe place for future reference.)  
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SET-UP INSTRUCTIONS  
This unit is shipped WITHOUT GASOLINE  
brackets. Place the hairpin clips in the inner  
hole. See Figure 2.  
or OIL. After assembly, service engine with  
gasoline and oil as instructed in the separate  
engine manual packed with your unit.  
Place one carriage bolt (found in the hard-  
ware pack included with your unit) in the  
upper hole of the right handle mounting  
bracket from the inside outward. Secure  
with one plastic wing nuts. Repeat process  
on other side. See Figure 2.  
NOTE: Reference to right or left  
hand side of the mower is observed  
from the operating position.  
HOW TO SET-UP YOUR LAWN MOWER  
NOTE: Make certain the drive cable is  
routed around the outside and above  
the lower handle so it does not interfere  
with attaching the grass bag.  
Refer to Illustration Below  
Disconnect the spark plug wire and move it  
away from spark plug as instructed in the  
separate engine manual packed with your  
unit.  
The rope guide (pigs tail) is part of the grass  
catcher support rod attached to the lower  
handle. See Figure 3. With the spark plug  
wire disconnected and grounded as in-  
structed in the separate engine manual,  
hold the blade control handle against the up-  
per handle, and pull the starter rope out of  
the engine slowly until it extends past the  
rope guide (pigs tail).  
Remove the carton inserts (if any). Remove  
the loose parts which are in the carton, lift  
the mower from the carton, or cut the cor-  
ners of the carton and roll the mower out.  
Pull up and back on the upper handle to  
raise the handle into the operating position.  
See Figure 1. Make certain the lower handle  
is seated securely into the handle mounting  
brackets. Tighten the wing nuts on each side  
of the handle. See Figure 2.  
Guide the starter rope around the rope guide  
(pig tail) until the rope is securely in the cen-  
ter.  
Remove the hairpin clips from the outer hole  
in the weld pins on the handle mounting  
Make certain all nuts and bolts are tightened  
securely.  
Upper  
Handle  
Wing Nut  
Cutting Height  
Adjustment Lever  
Rope Guide  
Lower Handle  
Handle Mounting  
Bracket  
Blade Control Handle  
Drive Clutch  
Control  
Shift Lever  
Figure 1  
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Upper Hole  
Carriage  
Bolt  
Lower Handle  
Lower  
Handle  
Recoil  
Starter  
Support  
Rod  
Rope  
Guide  
Weld Pin  
Wing Nut  
Place the hairpin clips in the inner hole.  
Figure 3  
Figure 2  
Ignition Key (Switch)  
CONTROLS  
BLADE CONTROL HANDLE  
WARNING: This control mechanism  
is a safety device. Never attempt to  
bypass its operations.  
The blade control handle is located on the  
upper handle of the mower. See Figure 1.  
The blade control handle must be depressed  
in order to operate the unit. Release the  
blade control handle to stop the engine and  
blade.  
Figure 4-(Electric Start Units Only)  
NOTE: Only move the shift lever when  
the engine is running. Changing the  
shift lever setting with the engine off  
can cause damage to the mower.  
WARNING: The blade will be rotat-  
ing whenever the engine is running.  
RECOIL STARTER  
CUTTING HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT LEVER  
(Models: 959 & 979)  
The recoil starter handle is attached to the  
handle. See Figure 3. Stand behind the unit  
in the operating position to start the unit.  
The height adjuster determines the cutting  
height of the mower. The adjuster is located  
above the left rear wheel. To adjust the cut-  
ting height, pull the lever out and away from  
the mower and then move it forward or back  
to select a new cutting height. See Figure 5.  
IGNITION SWITCH (Electric Start Units  
Only)  
The ignition switch is located on the left side  
of the handle panel. It is used for starting  
only. See Figure 4.  
CUTTING HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT LEVER  
(Model: 999)  
DRIVE CLUTCH CONTROL  
The rear wheel height adjuster determines  
the cutting height of the mower. The adjuster  
is located above the left rear wheel. To ad-  
just the cutting height, pull the lever out and  
away from the mower and then move it for-  
ward or back to select a new cutting height.  
See Figure 5.  
Squeezing the drive clutch control engages  
the drive system. Releasing the clutch  
control disengages the drive system.  
Release the clutch control to slow down  
when negotiating an obstacle, making a turn  
or stopping.  
SHIFT LEVER  
The front wheel cutting height is determined  
by the selection of one of six positions in  
each caster assembly. See Figure 6.  
The shift lever is located on the drive clutch  
control housing on the upper handle. See  
Figure 1. This lever is used to select the  
forward speed of the mower. When  
changing your speed selection, release the  
drive clutch control.  
To adjust, remove the wing nut from the axle  
bolt. Slide the axle bolt and spring washer  
from the assembly and select  
a
cutting  
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LOWER  
Locking Pin  
Axle Bolt  
and  
Spring  
Washer  
HIGHER  
Figure 6  
Cutting Height Adjustment Lever  
Figure 5  
BEFORE STARTING  
MODELS WITH ELECTRIC START ONLY:  
height. With the spring washer on the axle  
bolt reinsert in the square hole desired,  
through the wheel assembly and secure with  
the wing nut previously removed.  
WARNING: The battery contains  
corrosive fluid and toxic material.  
HANDLE WITH CARE. Keep away  
from children. Do not puncture, dis-  
assemble, mutilate or incinerate. Ex-  
plosive gases could be vented dur-  
ing charging or discharging. Use in  
IMPORTANT: All wheels must be placed in  
the same relative position.  
NOTE: For rough or uneven lawns,  
move the height adjustment lever to a  
higher position. This will help stop  
scalping.  
a well-ventilated area, away from  
sources of ignition.  
Charge battery for 16 hours before initial  
use. DO NOT CHARGE LONGER THAN 20  
HOURS.  
CASTER LOCK  
WARNING: When operating mower  
on hills, front wheels should be  
locked in the straight ahead posi-  
tion.  
IMPORTANT: Use only the battery  
charger supplied with this mower.  
To charge the battery, first remove the pro-  
tective cap from the end of the battery pack  
lead. Always plug charger lead into battery  
pack lead before inserting battery charger  
plug into 120 volt standard household outlet.  
See Figure 7.  
The casters can be locked in  
a
straight  
ahead position or can be left to swivel freely.  
Lift and place the lock pins in the larger  
holes for locked, straight ahead operation,  
place pins in smaller holes to allow casters  
to rotate freely.  
OPERATION  
Protective  
Cap  
IMPORTANT: Move the shift lever ONLY  
when the engine is running. Shifting the  
speeds with the engine off can cause dam-  
age to the unit. Disengage the drive clutch  
control before changing the speed selection.  
Battery  
pack  
Service the engine with gasoline and oil as  
instructed in the separate engine manual  
packed in your mower. Read instructions  
carefully.  
Figure 7  
WARNING: Never fill fuel tank in-  
doors, with engine running or until  
the engine has been allowed to cool  
for at least two minutes after run-  
ning.  
After charging, disconnect battery charger  
plug from household outlet first, then discon-  
nect charger lead from battery pack lead.  
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WARNING: Do not remove the bat-  
tery pack from the handle panel for  
any reason other than replacement.  
When replacing the battery pack,  
refer to instructions in Maintenance  
section.  
Blade Control Handle  
Drive  
Clutch  
NEUTRAL TEST FOR ALL MODELS:  
Six Speed  
Shift Lever  
Before each use, check for proper drive  
clutch operation by performing the following  
before starting the engine:  
With the drive clutch control released, push  
mower forward. It should move freely.  
Recoil Start  
Handle  
If it does not and the rear wheels tend to  
lock up, the clutch may not be releasing  
completely. Do not start the engine until cor-  
rections have been made. Check the control  
cable for severe bend, kinks and binding, or  
grass build-up in the pulley groove. Refer to  
the "Adjustment" section for any additional  
information.  
Figure 9-RECOIL START MODEL SHOWN  
Standing behind the unit, depress the blade  
control handle and hold it against the upper  
handle as shown in Figure 9.  
ELECTRIC START MODELS ONLY:  
Turn the ignition key to the right to start the  
engine. Release the key after engine starts.  
See Figure 4.  
TO START ENGINE AND ENGAGE BLADE  
WARNING: When starting the unit  
for the first time, place mower in  
first speed (slow) position. Face the  
mower against a solid object such  
as a wall, fence, etc. Start the unit,  
and if it shows any signs of motion  
with the drive clutch control disen-  
gaged, shut the engine off immedi-  
ately. Make certain the drive clutch  
control is adjusted so the drive belt  
is as loose as possible. Refer to the  
Adjustment Section.  
NOTE: The engine on your unit is  
provided with an auxiliary recoil  
starter system. To start the engine  
using the auxiliary start system, pro-  
ceed as follows for recoil start  
models:  
RECOIL START MODELS ONLY:  
Grasp the recoil starter handle as shown and  
pull slowly until resistance is felt, then pull  
rapidly to start engine and avoid kickback.  
Return it slowly to the rope guide bolt. See  
Figure 9.  
Attach spark plug wire to spark plug. If unit  
is equipped with a rubber boot over the end  
of the spark plug wire, make certain the  
metal loop on the end of the spark plug wire  
(inside the rubber boot) is fastened securely  
over the metal tip on the spark plug. See  
Figure 8.  
To engage the drive, squeeze the drive clutch  
control handle (see Figure 9) towards the up-  
per handle. Release the drive clutch control  
to slow down when negotiating an obstacle,  
making a turn, or stopping.  
The six speed shift lever is located on the  
drive clutch control housing on the upper  
handle. See Figure 9. This lever is used to se-  
lect the operating speed of the mower.  
Release the drive clutch control when chang-  
ing speeds.  
Metal  
Loop  
on Spark  
Plug Wire  
Rubber Boot  
WARNING: THIS CONTROL MECHA-  
NISM IS A SAFETY DEVICE. NEVER  
ATTEMPT TO BYPASS ITS OPERA-  
TIONS.  
Figure 8  
If your unit is equipped with a primer, prime  
engine as instructed in the separate engine  
manual packed with your unit.  
The blade control handle must be depressed  
in order to operate the unit. Release the  
blade control handle to stop the engine and  
blade.  
If your unit is equipped with a two speed  
control on the engine refer to the separate  
engine manual packed with your unit.  
10  
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TO STOP ENGINE  
Wing Nuts  
Release the blade control handle to stop the  
engine and blade.  
WARNING: The blade continues to  
rotate for a few seconds after the  
engine is shut off.  
Disconnect the spark plug wire and ground it  
against the engine as instructed in the sepa-  
rate engine manual to prevent accidental  
starting while equipment is unattended.  
Mulching  
Baffle  
USING YOUR ROTARY MOWER  
Be sure that lawn is clear of stones, sticks,  
wire, or other objects which could damage  
lawn mower or engine. Such objects could  
be accidentally thrown by the mower in any  
direction and cause serious personal injury to  
the operator and others.  
Figure 10  
Bagging Adapter  
For the best results, do not cut wet grass be-  
cause it tends to stick to the underside of the  
mower, preventing proper mulching of grass  
clippings. In addition, wet grass could cause  
you to slip and fall. New grass, thick grass or  
wet grass may require a narrower cut.  
For best results, cut off one-third or less of  
the total length of the grass. Lawn should be  
cut in the fall as long as there is growth.  
Figure 11  
The mower is designed to be operated at full  
throttle to give you the best cut and do the  
most effective job of mulching.  
Flap  
Bagging  
Adapter  
WARNING: If you strike a foreign  
object, stop the engine. Remove  
wire from spark plug, thoroughly in-  
spect the mower for any damage,  
and repair the damage before re-  
starting and operating the mower.  
Extensive vibration of the mower  
during operation is an indication of  
damage. The unit should be  
promptly inspected and repaired.  
BAGGING GRASS CLIPPINGS  
Figure 12  
This mower can bag grass clippings. Follow  
steps 1 through 3 to ready the mower for  
bagging.  
EMPTYING YOUR GRASS BAG  
Lift grassbag from the bagging adapter us-  
ing the lower handle. While holding the lower  
handle lift up the rear section of the  
grassbag. The bag will open and the grass  
clippings will fall out. See Figure 13. When  
replacing your grassbag be sure the top of  
the bag rests on the wire support between  
the handles.  
1. Remove wing nuts holding mulching baffle  
(see Figure 10) or side discharge chute  
(see Figure 14) in place. Then remove  
baffle or discharge chute.  
2, Replace with bagging adapter (see Figure  
11). Attach using wing nuts. Be sure that  
inner lip of attachment goes under the  
edge of the deck.  
3. Lift flap and slide bag onto adapter. See  
Figure 12.  
11  
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Side  
Discharge  
Chute  
Wing Nut  
Figure 13  
Figure 14  
SIDE DISCHARGE GRASS CLIPPINGS  
This mower can also side discharge grass  
clippings. Follow steps 1 and 2 to ready this  
mower for side discharge operation.  
Notch  
Lower Handle  
Figure 15  
1. Remove mulching baffle or grass bag  
adapter. See Figure 10.  
2. Attach discharge chute with wing nuts. See  
Figure 14.  
ADJUSTMENT  
Reassemble, placing the bottom holes in  
the handle over the weld pins in the han-  
dle mounting bracket.  
CAUTION: DO NOT AT ANY TIME MAKE  
ADJUSTMENTS TO LAWNMOWER WITH-  
OUT FIRST STOPPING THE ENGINE AND  
DISCONNECTING THE SPARK PLUG  
WIRE  
5. Reassemble the upper handle to the lower  
handle.  
6. Place the hairpin clips in the inner holes of  
the weld pins and secure with carriage  
bolts and wing nuts as instructed in  
the“Set-Up” section of this manual.  
CAUTION: Before changing mowing  
height, stop mower and disconnect  
spark plug cable.  
7. Attach the starter rope and rope guide as  
instructed in the “Set-Up” section of this  
manual.  
MODELS WITH SINGLE LEVER HEIGHT  
ADJUSTERS:  
Refer to “Controls Section” and Figure 5.  
DRIVE CLUTCH CONTROL ADJUSTMENT  
HANDLE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT  
Use the adjustment wheel located on the un-  
derside of the clutch control housing to  
tighten the drive belt if mower does not  
self-propel with the drive clutch control en-  
gaged, or if drive belt is slipping (unit  
hesitates while engine maintains the same  
speed). See Figure 16.  
Your mower is shipped with the handle in  
the higher height position. To lower the han-  
dle height, proceed as follows.  
1. Remove the starter rope and the rope  
guide.  
2. Remove the upper handle by removing the  
wing nuts and carriage bolts. Lay the up-  
per handle out of the way, being careful  
not to bend or kink the cables.  
In addition, the adjustment wheel may also  
be used to determine the position in which  
the drive clutch control is engaged. If it is  
more comfortable to have the drive engaged  
with the lever further away from the handle,  
tighten the drive belt.  
3. Remove the hairpin clips from the weld  
pins on the handle brackets. Press out on  
the legs of the lower handle. Remove  
lower handle from the mower.  
Make certain to retest the unit for neutral as  
instructed in the operation Section. Move the  
adjustment wheel in the opposite direction to  
loosen the drive belt if necessary.  
4. Turn the lower handle around so the notch  
on the bottom of the lower handle is fac-  
ing forward as shown in Figure 15.  
12  
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BOTTOM  
VIEW  
Hex Nut  
Six Speed  
Cable  
Adjustable  
Cable Bracket  
Figure 17  
Figure 16  
SIX SPEED SHIFT CABLE ADJUSTMENT  
MAINTENANCE  
Periodic adjustment of the six speed shift ca-  
ble may be required due to normal stretch  
and wear on the cable. Adjustment is  
needed if all six speeds cannot be obtained.  
For best results your blade should be sharp.  
The blade may be resharpened by removing  
it and either grinding or filing the cutting  
edge keeping as close to the original bevel  
as possible.  
The adjustable cable bracket is located on  
the left side of the mower, beside the en-  
gine. To adjust, loosen the hex nut which  
secures the adjustable cable bracket. See  
Figure 17. Pull backward on the bracket (to-  
ward the rear of the mower). Retighten the  
hex nut. Test the speeds on the mower (en-  
gine must be running).  
Improper blade balance will result in exces-  
sive vibration causing eventual damage to  
the engine and mower. Be sure to carefully  
balance blade after sharpening.  
After prolonged use, especially in sandy soil  
conditions, the blade will become worn and  
lose some of the original shape. Cutting effi-  
ciency will be reduced and the blade should  
be replaced. Replace with an approved factory  
replacement blade only. Possible damage re-  
sulting from blade unbalance condition is not  
the responsibility of the manufacturer.  
CARBURETOR ADJUSTMENT  
Refer to the separate engine manual packed  
with your mower for carburetor adjustment  
information.  
LUBRICATION  
ENGINE  
CAUTION: DISCONNECT SPARK  
PLUG WIRE BEFORE SERVICING.  
Refer to the separate engine manual for en-  
gine maintenance instructions.  
WHEELS - If your mower is equipped with  
ball bearing wheels, lubricate at least once a  
season with a light oil, all other types require  
no lubrication. However, if the wheels are re-  
moved for any reason, lubricate the surface  
of the axle bolt and the inner surface of the  
wheel with light automotive oil.  
Maintain engine oil as instructed in the sepa-  
rate engine manual packed with your unit.  
Read and follow instructions carefully.  
Under normal conditions service air cleaner  
as instructed in the separate engine manual  
packed with your unit.  
Clean every few  
ENGINE - Follow engine manual for lubrication  
instructions.  
hours under extremely dusty conditions.  
Poor engine performance and flooding usu-  
ally indicates that the air cleaner should be  
serviced.  
BLADE CONTROL - Lubricate the pivot points  
on the blade control handle and the brake cable  
at least once a season with light oil. The blade  
control must operate freely in both directions.  
The spark plug should be cleaned and the  
gap reset once a season. Spark plug replace-  
ment is recommended at the start of each  
mowing season; check engine manual for cor-  
rect plug type and gap specifications.  
TRANSMISSION  
-
The transmission is  
pre-lubricated and sealed at the factory. It  
does not require checking. If disassembled  
for any reason, fill with 2 ounces of Alvania  
grease, part number 737-0168.  
13  
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NOTE: This spark ignition system meets  
all requirements of the Canadian Interfer-  
ence-Causing Equipment Regulations.  
Blade Adapter  
Blade  
Clean the engine regularly with a cloth or  
brush. Keep the cooling system (blower hous-  
ing area) clean to permit proper air circulation  
which is essential to engine performance and  
life. Be certain to remove all grass, dirt and  
combustible debris from muffler area.  
Blade Bell  
Support  
Hex Bolt  
DECK  
Figure 18  
The underside of the mower deck should be  
cleaned after each use to prevent a buildup of  
grass clippings, leaves, dirt or other matter. If  
this debris is allowed to accumulate, it will in-  
vite rust and corrosion, and may prevent  
proper mulching.  
Before reassembling the blade and the blade  
adapter to the unit, lubricate the engine crank-  
shaft and the inner surface of the blade  
adapter with light oil. Install the blade adapter  
on the crankshaft with the “star” away from the  
engine. Refer to Figure 18. Place the blade  
with the side marked bottom (or with part  
number) facing away from the adapter. Align  
the blade bell support over the blade with the  
tabs in the holes of the blade and insert the  
hex bolt. Tighten the hex bolt to the torque  
listed below:  
The deck may be cleaned by tilting the mower  
and scraping clean with a suitable tool (make  
certain the spark plug wire is disconnected).  
CUTTING BLADE  
WARNING: Be sure to disconnect  
and ground the spark plug wire and  
remove ignition key before working  
on the cutting blade to prevent acci-  
dental engine starting. Protect hands  
by using heavy gloves or a rag to  
grasp the cutting blades.  
Blade Mounting Torque  
Center Bolt 450 in. lb. min., 600 in.lb. max.  
To insure safe operation of your unit, ALL  
nuts and bolts must be checked periodically  
for correct tightness.  
Tip mower as specified in separate engine  
manual. If it is not specified tip with carburetor  
up.  
CAUTION: Cutting grass in sandy  
soil conditions causes abrasive  
wear to the blade.  
Remove the bolt and blade support which  
holds the blade and adapter to the engine  
crankshaft. Remove the blade and adapter  
from the crankshaft.  
After prolonged use, especially in sandy soil  
conditions, the blade will become worn and  
lose some of the original shape. Cutting effi-  
ciently will be reduced and the blade should be  
replaced. Replace with an approved factory re-  
placement blade only. Possible damage  
resulting from blade unbalance condition is not  
the responsibility of the manufacturer.  
WARNING: Periodically inspect the  
blade adapter for cracks, especially if  
you strike a foreign object. Replace  
when necessary.  
For best results your blade should be sharp.  
The blade may be resharpened by removing it  
and either grinding or filing the cutting edge  
keeping as close to the original bevel as pos-  
sible. It is extremely important that each  
cutting edge receives an equal amount of  
grinding to prevent an unbalanced blade. Im-  
proper blade balance will result in excessive  
vibration causing eventual damage to the en-  
gine and mower. Be sure to carefully balance  
blade after sharpening. The blade can be  
tested for balance by balancing it on a round  
shaft screwdriver. Remove metal from the  
heavy side until it balances evenly.  
BELT REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT  
1. Disconnect the spark plug wire and  
ground it against the engine.  
2. Drain the fuel tank or place a piece of  
plastic beneath the cap to prevent gaso-  
line leakage.  
3. Tip the mower on its side. Block securely.  
4. Remove the blade and blade adapter as  
described previously.  
5. Move rear height adjuster to the highest  
position. See Figure 21.  
14  
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6. Using a 3/8" socket remove three hex  
screws holding the baffle to the deck. See  
Figure 19.  
Transmission  
Pulley  
7. Pivot baffle towards the rear of the mower.  
See Figure 20.  
Belt  
Belt Keeper  
Bracket  
Transmission  
Idler Pulley  
Bracket  
Hex  
Screw  
Idler Pulley  
Bolt and  
Locknut  
Hex  
Hex  
Screw  
Screw  
Figure 19  
Figure 22  
Mower is shown tipped on engine for clarity.  
Remember, only tip mower back on its han-  
dle with the spark plug facing up.  
Six-Speed  
Cable Slot  
Belt  
Baffle  
Figure 20  
Control  
Arm  
Rear Wheels Adjustment Lever  
Figure 23  
Hex  
Bolt  
10. Using a pair of pliers, pull back and rotate  
belt keeper bracket from the slot on idler  
pulley.  
11. Slide the belt out from between the belt  
keeper bracket and the idler pulley. See  
Figure 22.  
Baffle  
Figure 21  
12. Squeeze the belt together and push belt  
forward. Press the control arm inward to-  
wards the deck and remove the six speed  
cable from the slot. See Figure 23.  
8. Remove the hex bolt holding the transmis-  
sion to the mower housing. See Figure  
21.  
13. Pivot the control arm down away from the  
pulley and belt. See Figure 24.  
9. Tilt the transmission forward and loosen  
the idler pulley bolt and locknut ½ turn  
using two 7/16" wrenches.  
14. Lift off the lower pulley assembly and re-  
move the old belt from around the  
crankshaft. See Figure 25.  
15  
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Upper Pulley  
Half  
Six-Speed  
Cable Slot  
Belt  
Control  
Arm  
Lower  
Pulley  
Half  
Belt Guard  
Pin  
Figure 26  
Figure 24  
Lower Pulley  
Half  
Crankshaft  
Lower Pulley  
Half  
Belt  
Belt Guard  
Pin  
Belt  
Figure 27  
Figure 25  
15. Place the new belt over the transmission  
pulley. Start the belt in pulley groove and  
rotate pulley until belt is seated in trans-  
mission pulley. See Figure 25.  
16. Place belt between idler pulley and the  
belt keeper bracket.  
17. Using pliers, rotate the belt keeper bracket  
so that it snaps into slot on the idler  
bracket.  
18. Tighten the idler pulley bolt and locknut ½  
turn using two 7/16" wrenches. See Figure  
22.  
Figure 28  
19. Place belt between the two pulley halves on  
the crankshaft. Make sure to route the belt  
inside the belt guard pin. See Figure 26.  
22. Check and make sure the belt is routed in-  
side the pulley halves and the belt guard  
pin. See Figure 28.  
23. Reinstall the bolt securing transmission to  
rear mower housing.  
IMPORTANT: For proper assembly, it  
is essential to keep the assembly  
positioned as shown in Figure 26.  
24. Pivot the baffle back to its original position  
and secure with three hex screws earlier re-  
moved. You will need a 3/8" socket for these  
screws.  
20. Pinch belt together so that it is not in the pul-  
ley groove, and the lower pulley can be  
pushed towards the engine. See Figure 27.  
25. Lightly lubricate the crankshaft and reinstall  
blade and blade adapter as described in the  
“Cutting Blade” section.  
21. Pivot the control arm back to its original posi-  
tion and reinstall the six-speed cable into the  
slot.  
26. Tip the mower back on its wheels.  
27. Make certain to retest the unit for neutral as  
instructed in the Operation Section.  
16  
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Fuse Holder  
OFF SEASON STORAGE  
INSTRUCTIONS  
Positive  
terminal  
The following steps should be taken to pre-  
pare lawn mower for storage.  
1. Clean and lubricate mower thoroughly as  
described in the lubrication instructions.  
Negative  
terminal  
2. Refer to engine manual for correct engine  
storage instructions.  
3. Coat mower’s cutting blade with chassis  
grease to prevent rusting.  
4. Store mower in a dry, clean area.  
Figure 29  
STORAGE OF THE BATTERY  
BATTERY PACK REPLACEMENT (Electric  
start Models Only)  
The battery must be stored with  
charge. A discharge battery will freeze.  
a
full  
Remove the battery pack from the handle panel  
for replacement only. Do not separate the bat-  
teries for any reason. Dispose of batteries  
properly.  
IMPORTANT: All batteries discharge  
during storage.  
Recharge battery every two months and be-  
fore returning to service. Refer to charging  
instructions on page 9.  
WARNING: Batteries contain sulfu-  
ric acid which may cause burns. Do  
not short circuit or mutilate in any  
way. Do not put batteries in fire.  
They may burst or release toxic ma-  
terial.  
NOTE: When storing any type of power  
equipment in an unventilated or metal  
storage shed, care should be taken to  
rust-proof the equipment. Using a light  
oil or silicone, coat the equipment, es-  
pecially cables and all moving parts.  
When replacing battery pack in handle  
panel, battery pack must be positioned with  
the positive terminal to the right hand side  
and the negative terminal to the left hand  
side of panel. See Figure 29. Replacing the  
battery pack incorrectly will cause serious  
damage.  
CAUTION: Never fold or unfold  
handle without disconnecting spark  
plug.  
NOTE: Be careful not to bend of kink  
cables.  
The positive lead on the wire harness has  
the smaller connector. Connect the positive  
lead to the positive side of the battery pack,  
then connect the negative side.  
NOTE: If the starter rope becomes dis-  
connected from rope guide on handle,  
disconnect and ground the spark plug  
wire. Depress the bail and pull the  
starter rope out from engine slowly. Slip  
the starter rope into the rope guide bolt  
on handle.  
IN-LINE FUSE  
The unit is equipped with an in-line fuse. If  
unit fails to start, check the fuse inside the  
battery cover by turning the end of the fuse  
holder and removing from the battery cover.  
See Figure 29. Replace with standard auto-  
motive 7-1/2 amp fuse.  
17  
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THREE (3) YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY  
For three (3) years from the date of original purchase of our products, we will either repair or  
replace, at its option, free of charge, F.O.B. Factory or authorized service firm, any part found  
to be DEFECTIVE IN MATERIAL and WORKMANSHIP for the original purchaser. all transporta-  
tion charges on parts submitted for replacement under this warranty must be paid by the  
purchaser unless return is requested by the manufacturer.  
This warranty DOES NOT apply to any part which has become inoperative through misuse, ex-  
cessive use, accident, neglect, improper maintenance or alterations by unauthorized persons.  
The limited warranty does not extend to the replacement of parts which are not defective, but  
where regular usage has exhausted the life of the part.  
ENGINES, ELECTRIC START KITS, PEERLESS TRANSMISSIONS AND PEERLESS  
TRANSAXLES ARE WARRANTED BY THEIR RESPECTIVE MANUFACTURER. ALL CLAIMS  
AGAINST THESE COMPONENTS MUST BE HANDLED THROUGH THE RESPECTIVE MANU-  
FACTURER’S SERVICE DEALERS.  
Belts, light bulbs, clutch parts (friction wheels), grass bags, tires, seats, rider deck wheels and  
cutting blades are covered by a 60 day limited warranty.  
Batteries are covered by a 90 day limited warranty.  
Fuses, shear bolts and blade adapters are considered consumable items and as such are not  
warranted.  
NOTE: Regular maintenance replacement parts and related inspections and adjustments are  
excluded from coverage when made as part of normal maintenance service.  
TRACTOR ATTACHMENT WARRANTY  
Mower decks included with your product, or sold separately, as an attachment for your garden  
tractors will be warranted according to the above terms of the manufacturer three (3) year lim-  
ited consumer warranty.  
ALL OTHER ATTACHMENTS will be sold under the same condition as above except the war-  
ranty will be ONE YEAR FROM DATE OF ORIGINAL PURCHASE.  
PERSONAL USE  
THE FOREGOING PARAGRAPHS CONSTITUTE THE MANUFACTURER’S ENTIRE WARRANTY  
WITH RESPECT TO ANY PRODUCT PURCHASED AND USED FOR PERSONAL FAMILY,  
HOUSEHOLD/RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES, AS DISTINGUISHED FROM COMMERCIAL USAGE.  
COMMERCIAL USE  
ALL APPLICATIONS OTHER THAN PERSONAL USE AS OUTLINED ABOVE, ARE CON-  
SIDERED COMMERCIAL USAGE.  
New products purchased for commercial usage are warranted in the same manner and to the  
same extend EXCEPT the term of warranty will be 60 DAYS from date of purchase.  
WARRANTY SERVICE CAN ONLY BE PERFORMED BY AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE DEALER.  
ANY NON-ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT PART USED ON OR IN A PRODUCT  
UNDER WARRANTY WILL BE EXCLUDED FROM THAT WARRANTY COVERAGE, AS WILL BE  
ANY RELATED DAMAGED COMPONENTS RESULTING FROM THE INSTALLATION OF A RE-  
PLACEMENT PART FROM ANOTHER SOURCE OTHER THAN THE MANUFACTURER.  
29  
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TROUBLE SHOOTING  
PROBLEM  
POSSIBLE CAUSE(S)  
CORRECTIVE ACTION  
Engine fails to start  
1. Blade control handle disen-  
gaged.  
1. Engage blade control handle.  
2. Spark plug wire disconnected. 2. Connect spark plug wire.  
3. Fuel tank empty, or stale fuel.  
4. Blocked fuel line.  
3. Fill tank with clean, fresh gasoline.  
4. Clean the fuel line.  
5. Faulty spark plug.  
5. Clean, adjust gap or replace.  
6. Engine flooded.  
6. Wait a few minutes to restart, but  
do not prime.  
Engine runs erratic  
1. Spark plug wire loose.  
1. Connect and tighten spark plug wire.  
2. Blocked fuel line or stale fuel.  
2. Clean the fuel line; fill the tank  
with clean, fresh gasoline.  
3. Vent in gas plugged.  
3. Clear vent.  
4. Water or dirt in fuel system.  
4. Drain the fuel tank and carburetor.  
Refill with fresh fuel.  
5. Dirty air cleaner.  
5. Clean air cleaner.  
6. Carburetor out of adjustment.  
1. Engine oil level low.  
2. Air flow restricted.  
6. Adjust carburetor.  
Engine overheats  
Idles poorly  
1. Fill crankcase with proper oil.  
2. Remove blower housing and  
clean.  
3. Carburetor not adjusted prop-  
erly.  
3. Adjust carburetor.  
1. Spark plug fouled, faulty or gap 1. Reset gap to .030" or replace  
too wide. spark plug.  
2. Carburetor improperly adjusted. 2. Adjust carburetor.  
3. Dirty air cleaner.  
3. Clean air cleaner.  
Excessive vibration  
1. Cutting blade loose or unbal-  
anced.  
1. Tighten blade and adapter. Bal-  
ance blade.  
2. Bent cutting blade.  
1. Wet grass.  
2. Replace blade.  
Mower will not mulch grass  
1. Do not mow when grass is wet;  
wait until later to cut.  
2. Excessively high grass.  
2. Mow once at a high cutting  
height, then mow again at desired  
height or make a narrower cutting  
path.  
3. Dull blade.  
3. Sharpen or replace blade.  
Uneven cut  
1. Wheels not positioned correctly. 1. Place all four wheels in same  
hight position.  
2. Dull blade.  
2. Sharpen or replace blade.  
Wheels will not propel  
1. Belt not installed properly.  
1. Check belt for proper pulley in-  
stallation and movement.  
2. Debris clogging drive operation. 2. Clean out debris.  
NOTE: For repairs beyond the minor adjustments listed above, contract your nearest authorized  
service dealer.  
30  
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notes . . .  
31  
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